Megliola: Can't be surprised with these Patriots

This is how blurred the line was. After the Patriots knocked off the Colts on Saturday night, you thought anything was possible, even the injury-cursed Pats getting to — and even winning — the Super Bowl.

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By Lenny MegliolaSpecial to the Daily News

The Enterprise, Brockton, MA

By Lenny MegliolaSpecial to the Daily News

Posted Jan. 12, 2014 at 12:07 AM
Updated Jan 14, 2014 at 7:59 AM

By Lenny MegliolaSpecial to the Daily News

Posted Jan. 12, 2014 at 12:07 AM
Updated Jan 14, 2014 at 7:59 AM

» Social News

FOXBORO — This is how blurred the line was. After the Patriots knocked off the Colts Saturday night, you thought anything was possible, even the injury-cursed Pats getting to — and even winning — the Super Bowl.

Right?

Or, if the Pats lost you might admit that the best of times for the Patriots, on a slippery slope the last few seasons anyway, were winding down, their dynastic run more of a distant memory, a fourth Super Bowl title an illusion.

That's how fragile it is with the Patriots. Expect anything.

Look, the NFL playoffs are a precious thing to the American sports psyche. If pro football is America's most popular enterprise now, then its post-season is our best sporting month.

The players feel the same way. "These are the moments you dream about," Tom Brady enthused earlier this week. Another one of those do-or-die moments arrived Saturday night at Gillette Stadium.

The Patriots did just fine, scoring early and often to rout the Colts 43-22 and move into the AFC Championship Game.

Brady's three Super Bowl rings haven't lost their luster. He took a 17-7 postseason record into the Colts game. Very nice. Oops, forgot something. Since 2007 he was 5-5 entering Saturday. Not so nice.

Brady long ago earned his way to iconic status in this hot sports town. Truth is, he spoiled us. Now that he's on the border of QB old age, Pats fans realize time's running out on the future Hall of Famer, so they beg for one more shot at the big prize. And they depend on Brady for guidance.

But this Pats team was different in many ways. They get all the credit in the world for sucking it up, turning in a 12-4 resume and getting to the dance when common sense said, no, they've lost too many bodies to injury, and one to the judicial system, to make a deep run in the tournament. No excuses necessary, none made.

Then you thought, well the Colts aren't all that scary. Nice young quarterback and all, but talk about injuries! They had seven players out with injuries, including their best receiver. They weren't stiffs; they were players.

On defense, the Colts had one stud, linebacker Robert Mathis. Couldn't Brady & friends weave their way around this?

So, how were these Patriots different? They hadn't exactly morphed into a running team. Still, in recent weeks, with the ascent of punishing running back LeGarrette Blount (or is it Blunt?), Brady's old arm has gotten some rest in a season that conspired against him, injuries, free agency and a crime stripping him of some of his dependable receivers.

But what if Blount was a shooting star, a flash one moment, a disappearance act the next?

Page 2 of 2 - Look, on a night that started with lightning bolts and sent a moody rain — sometimes gentle, sometimes torrential — and winds around 30 mph, quirky things can decide a game. Saturday night was built for it.

Blount had touchdowns on the Patriots' first two drives.

You could never have imagined the time would arrive when, with 105 catches, Julian Edelman would be New England's no. 1 receiver. One-hundred and five, almost double the next guy down the line, Danny (I'm Not Welker) Amendola.

Speaking of receivers, there was some buzz this week after the Colts signed ex-Pats pass-catcher Deion Branch, and how he might help Indy more in the film room than on the field. Maybe he knew some Foxboro secrets. "(Branch) has been great," said Colts coach Chuck Pagano, although he didn't say in what way. Branch was a scratch.

It's been a fabulous NFL season, great young and running quarterbacks stepping up, games with more drama than a Shakespeare Festival, stunning comebacks which means stunning chokes (yes, you, Chiefs).

The Pats and Colts weren't necessarily out to add to the drama. Winning ugly in the rain would have been just fine. Back in Indy, Colts fans had high hopes. Around here, one outcome was wished for, but no outcome would have surprised.